Elevated track.



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PATENT f OFFICE.

VILLIAM A. LA'V, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ELEVATED TRACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,737, dated December 2o, 1904.

Application led April 19J 1904. Serial No. 203,931.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l', WILLIAM A. LAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Elevated Track, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elevated tracks of that class which are usually employed in connection with hay-carriers for the purpose of supporting the car or carriage.

- The invention has for its object to provide c a track of this character and hangers for suspending said track which shall be simple in construction, durable, and capable of supporting heavy loads.

With these and other ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view showing a portion ot' an elevated track constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. t is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing one of the special rivets for connecting the side members of the track. Fig. 6 is aperspective view illustrating the members of the coupling for connecting the adjoining ends. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the hangers.

Corresponding parts :in the several iigures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

My improved track, which is generally designated 1, is composed of angle-bars L-shaped in cross-section and designated 2 2. These side members are connected at intervals by means of special rivets 3, one of which has been illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 of the drawings and which consists of a bar or spacing member 4, having upturned ends 5, at the ends of which are cross-pieces 6, which constitute the rivets. It will be seen that when the spacing bars or members 1, with the upturned ends 5, are introduced between the angle-irons 2 2, which have been previously punched to form holes for the reception of the rivet members 6, the latter may be readily clenched or upset, so as to firmly connect the angle-bars 2, forniing the side members of the track, said side members at the same time being properly and evenly spaced apart by means of the said rivets, the lower edges of the spacing-bars A being preferably iiush with the lower edges ot' the angle-bars.

Two of the side members 2 2 thus connected form a track-section, any number of which may be employed to make up the track, accoi-ding to the length of the latter. These track-sections are connected by means of spacing-plates 7, inserted from the top and provided at their upper edges with flanges 7"L and at their lower edges with recesses 8 to admit the members 5 of the adjacent rivets 3, which latter have been properly spaced from the ends of the track-sections. The spacing member 7 is further provided with lateral eXtensions 8a, forming abutments for the opposing ends of the track-sections. Underneath the latter I place a iiange'd truss-plate l0, having lateral extensions 11, which lill the space between the ends of the horizontal flanges of the angle-plates constituting the track. The truss-plate 10, as well as the spacing-plate 7, is vertically perforated, as seen, respectively, at 12 and 13, for the admission of a vertical bolt 14, which being properly inserted and secured by means of a nut serves to hold the ends of adjacent track-sections securely in position with relation to each other. The tracksections being thus connected will be kept from sagging, not only by the truss-plate 10, but also by the spacing-plate 7, the recesses 8 of which engage the members 5 of the rivets, which are thereby prevented from being' drawn apart. A track thus constructed may, as will be readily understood, be easily supported in a level position, which is essential to the successful operation of the rolling-stock supported thereon.

The means for suspending the track consists of hangers 15, provided at their lower ends with oppositely-disposed shoulders 16, adapted to bear against the upper edges of the vertical iiangcs of the angle-irons which constitute the track-sections. Said hangers are IOO provided with depending supporting members 17, having T-heads 18 at their lower ends.- The supporting members are in practice introduced between the two side members 2 2 of the track, the T-heads 18 forming the supporting' means for the latter, while the shoulders 16 rest upon and engage the hori- Zontal upper edges of the vertical members of the angle-bars 2. It will be seen that by this simple means the track maybe readily supported in a horizontal position, any desired number of hang'ers being' employed, said hangers being suspended in any suitable manner under the roof of the barn or structure in which the device is to be employed. It is obvious that these hangers or supporting members are to be inserted between the anglebars before the latter are connected by means of the rivets herein described. Said rivets or connecting' devices, however, being spaced apart, it is obvious that the hangers are adjustable with relation to the track members by sliding them along the latter, the extent of adjustment being equal to the distance between the rivets of the connecting' members.

It will be seen that by the track construc- .tion just described an unbroken length of track is provided by the horizontal flanges of the angle-irons 2, which constitute the side members of the track, and the connecting members.

Idesire it to be understood that while I have in the foregoing' described a simple and preferred construction of my invention I do not necessarily limit myself to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but reserve the right to any chang'es, alterations, and modifications which may be resorted to within the scope of my invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrilicing the eiiieiency of the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A track consisting of two angle-bars, and spacing means between the vertical members of said angle-bars, said spacing means having lateral extensions projecting through and connected with the vertical members of said angle-bars.

2. A track consisting of two angle-bars, in combination with connecting means comprising spacing-bars having upwardly-extending ends provided with lateral extensions engaging perforations in the opposite vertical flanges of the angle-bars and clenched upon the latter.

3. A track composed of two side members, and connecting means for said side members, said connecting means includingkspacing devices having lateral extensions projecting through perforations in the track members and clenched extei'iorly upon the latter.

4. A track composed of sections, each comprising angle-bars connected by double rivets constructed with intermediate spacing-bars, spacing-plates inserted between the adjacent ends of the track-sections and having laterally-extending' ianges forming shoulders or abutments upon the latter, truss-'plates disposed against the under sides of the adjacent ends of the track-sections, and bolts extending vertically through holes pierced through the truss-plates and spacing-plates and having nuts tightly connecting the parts.

5. A track made up of sections, each of said sections comprising two members suitably connected and spaced apart, spacing-plates having shoulders abutting upon the upper edges of the track-sections and lateral extensions abutting upon theends of said tracksections, and truss-plates having lateral extensions spacing apart the lower parts of the members of the track-sections.

6. A track composed of sections, each section consisting of a pair of angle-plates, and special rivets connecting' said angle-plates, said rivets comprising' spacing' members having upwardly-extending arms provided with lateral extensions projecting through perforations in the angle-plates and clenched upon the latter, said rivets being properly spaced from the ends of the track-sections, in combination with spacing members introduced between the side members of adjacent track-sections and having recesses engaging the upwardlyextending' arms of the connecting members, truss-plates abutting' upon the under sides of the track members, and connecting-bolts.

7. A special rivet or connecting' member for track construction, the same consisting of a spacing member having upwardly-extending' arms provided at their upper ends with laterally-extending cross-pieces constituting rivets.

8. rlhe combination Witha track comprising suitably spaced and connected angle-bars, of hangers provided near their lower ends with laterally-extending shoulders engaging' the upper edges of the track-bars, and depending members insertible between said track-bars and provided with cross-pieces engaging under the latter.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. LAW. l/Vitnesses:

A. B. BELL, H. GORDON.

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